Do you need a subscription for CCTV? Ajax cameras, NVRs and cloud storage explained
Not for most Ajax cameras. The wired TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini record to a microSD card in the camera or to an Ajax NVR, so keeping footage needs no monthly plan. Ajax Cloud Storage is an optional paid extra that keeps event clips off-site. The exception is the DoorBell and IndoorCam: with no card slot, they need an Ajax NVR or a Cloud Storage plan to keep recordings. Here is how each works and what it costs.
Which Ajax cameras need a subscription?
Where each device can store video decides whether a plan is optional or the only way to keep footage.
| Ajax device | Can record to | Plan needed to keep footage? |
|---|---|---|
| TurretCam, BulletCam, DomeCam Mini (wired) | microSD card in the camera, Ajax NVR or Ajax Cloud Storage | No |
| DoorBell | Ajax NVR or Ajax Cloud Storage | Only if there is no NVR |
| IndoorCam | Ajax NVR or Ajax Cloud Storage | Only if there is no NVR |
Smart features do not depend on a plan either. The wired cameras detect people, pets, vehicles and line crossing themselves, and an Ajax NVR gives you a video wall, timeline and event filters in the Ajax app. With an Ajax wireless alarm, its detectors can also make chosen cameras record and send the clip to the app.
Why do the DoorBell and IndoorCam need an NVR or the cloud?
Both are Wi-Fi devices with nowhere of their own to keep video. The Ajax DoorBell and the Ajax IndoorCam each give you two ways to record:
- An Ajax NVR: a one-off purchase, plus a hard drive.
- Ajax Cloud Storage: no recorder to buy, but a monthly fee.
If you already run wired Ajax cameras on an NVR, recording the doorbell there too adds no subscription. See our Ajax video doorbells.
What does Ajax Cloud Storage add?
It keeps event recordings in Ajax Cloud, away from the building. Ajax says that footage stays reachable even if the storage on site is damaged or stolen. It records events, not 24 hours a day: a clip is saved when a camera detects motion or an Ajax detector triggers it.
Ajax announced wired camera support on 14 October 2026; before that the service covered only the DoorBell and IndoorCam. The plans differ by device type:
| DoorBell and IndoorCam | Wired cameras | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | Economy, Standard, Premium | Economy, Premium |
| Clip quality | 576p on Economy, 2K on Standard and Premium, 15 to 25 frames per second | 576p on Economy; 3K (4MP and 5MP cameras) or 4K (8MP) on Premium; 15 frames per second |
| History | 7 or 30 days | 7 or 30 days |
| Recording limit | 600 minutes (7 days) or 1,500 minutes (30 days) | Unlimited, Ajax says |
| Devices per plan | One, or a bundle of four sharing the limit | One camera |
Ajax says it can run alongside an NVR, which records continuously while the cloud holds copies of key events. The data is encrypted and the service runs on Amazon Web Services, Ajax says.
Can you get Ajax Cloud Storage in the UK, and what does it cost?
Yes. When we checked Ajax's own services availability tool on 27 October 2026, it listed Ajax Cloud Storage for the United Kingdom. An installer switches it on in the Ajax PRO app, or an installation or monitoring company does so in Ajax PRO Desktop. They pay by card there or are billed through their Ajax trade supplier; the tool lists no end-user payment in the Ajax app for the UK.
Ajax publishes no fixed price: the company that activates the plan sets its own. Ask your installer for the monthly cost per camera before choosing between a plan and an NVR.
How much footage fits on a card or an NVR?
It depends on the bitrate set on each camera. As a worked example we use the starting figure our CCTV storage calculator uses for a 5MP camera: about 4.6 Mbps in H.265 at 25 frames per second. One Mbps recorded all day fills about 10.8 GB.
- One camera on a 256 GB microSD card (the maximum Ajax lists for the standard wired models): about 50 GB a day recording 24/7, so roughly 5 days. Recording on motion only, for about a quarter of the day, stretches that to about 20 days.
- Eight cameras on an Ajax NVR with a 16 TB drive (the most it takes): about 400 GB a day around the clock, so roughly 40 days.
The Ajax NVR takes one 2.5 or 3.5 inch SATA drive and none comes in the box, so add one of our surveillance hard drives. Cards are not included either; Ajax specifies Class V30 or faster.
What do UK data protection rules say about storing footage?
For homes, the ICO says data protection law applies once a camera captures anything beyond your property boundary, such as a public street or someone else's property. You should then store footage securely, delete it regularly and usually answer a request for a copy within one calendar month.
For businesses, the ICO's video surveillance guidance adds:
- Retention: there is no set period. Keep footage only as long as your purpose needs, and do not let storage capacity or default settings decide. A 30-day plan is not a reason to keep 30 days.
- Cloud: acceptable if the provider offers adequate security. If the provider is based abroad, check whether that counts as an international transfer. Ajax's page does not say where its servers are, so ask.
- Sound: audio is more intrusive than video. Ajax's wired cameras have a built-in microphone, and the ICO expects sound recording to stay off unless you can justify it.
Ajax cameras and recorders, with our prices
| Product | Records to | Price inc VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Ajax TurretCam 5MP (2.8 mm) | microSD or NVR | £122.89 |
| BulletCam HL 5MP with white light | microSD or NVR | £150.05 |
| DomeCam Mini 5MP (2.8 mm) | microSD or NVR | £122.89 |
| IndoorCam | NVR or Cloud Storage | £191.69 |
| DoorBell | NVR or Cloud Storage | £229.32 |
| Ajax 8-channel NVR | One drive, up to 16 TB | £199.22 |
| 16-channel NVR | One drive, up to 16 TB | £252.25 |
Prices include VAT, delivery is extra, and prices can change. Hard drives and microSD cards are sold separately. Browse all Ajax cameras and NVRs or everything we stock from Ajax.
Our take
For most homes and small businesses, wired Ajax cameras on an NVR with a surveillance drive record without a monthly bill, with AI detection built into the camera rather than sold as a plan. Cloud Storage earns its fee where footage must survive the recorder being stolen or damaged, or where a DoorBell or IndoorCam has no NVR to record to. For resolution, cabling and recorder size, read our CCTV buying guide.
Zenith Security Co. has supplied security equipment since 2012. We supply Ajax cameras and recorders rather than fit them, and we can recommend a qualified installer depending on the job and area.
Want help choosing? Call 01902 902251, contact us online or visit our Wolverhampton trade counter. We ship nationally to England, Scotland and Wales.
CCTV subscriptions: quick questions
Can I use an Ajax camera without a subscription?
Yes. Wired TurretCam, BulletCam and DomeCam Mini cameras record to a microSD card or an Ajax NVR. Cloud Storage is optional.
Does the Ajax DoorBell record without a subscription?
Only with an Ajax NVR. It has no card slot, so without an NVR or a Cloud Storage plan its video is not kept.
Does the Ajax NVR come with a hard drive?
No. It takes one SATA drive of up to 16 TB, in the 2.5 or 3.5 inch size, bought separately.
Can an Ajax NVR record other brands' cameras?
Ajax lists support for IP cameras that conform to ONVIF profiles, and for RTSP streams, alongside its own cameras. Check the camera's ONVIF conformance before you buy.
Source: Ajax Systems blog, 25 September 2026, with Ajax's Cloud Storage, wired camera and services availability pages, and the ICO's home CCTV and video surveillance guidance. Device specifications are Ajax's own; storage figures are estimates from our calculator.
